Exterior Car Detailing in Redmond, WA
At Metropolitan Detail in Redmond, a proper exterior service is more than a wash. We decontaminate the paint, polish it, and seal it, so the finish is actually clean and actually protected. Three services, matched to what your car already has on it, for drivers all over Bellevue and Seattle.
One thorough process,
three ways to finish it.
The wash and the decontamination are the same across all three of our exterior services, and that is where most of the real work happens. What changes is the polish step, and which one you need comes down to what is on your paint right now: bare paint, a ceramic coating, or paint protection film. Pick the one that matches your car, or tell us and we will point you the right way.
Essential Exterior: for bare paint.
This is our entry-level exterior service, and our most popular, for any car running bare paint with no coating and no film. It is also a great way to freshen a car up after a season change. We start with a foam bath and a gentle 2 bucket hand wash, then decontaminate the paint to pull out the iron deposits left by brake dust, road tar, and environmental fallout. From there we run a single stage luster polish to bring the shine back, and seal it with a glossy, hydrophobic SiO2 sealant for temporary protection that lasts 3-6 months. A clean, protected finish without the commitment of a coating.
Ceramic Maintenance Polish: for coated cars.
If your car already has a ceramic coating, this is how you bring it back to life without stripping it. Your car gets the same thorough prep as our other exterior services: a foam bath, a gentle 2 bucket hand wash, and full iron, tar, and clay decontamination, with all the trim masked off to keep polishing residue out of it. The difference is the polish. We use CarPro’s Essence+, a non-abrasive polish that works with your coating instead of cutting through it, so it repairs and enhances what is already there and extends the life of the coating you paid for.
PPF Maintenance Polish: for cars with film.
Film needs different care than paint. Your car gets the same careful prep as our other exterior services, but the polish is what sets it apart. We use STEK’s PPF polishing compound, made for DYNOshield and effective on all paint protection films, to cut oxidation and light marring and bring back the gloss the film has lost over time. We finish with a ceramic-based sealant for added gloss and hydrophobic protection. If your car wears matte film, we have a matte polish for it too.
Depending on the finish you want, paint correction may be needed, and that is priced after a vehicle inspection. Heavy contaminants like overspray, moss growth, or hard sap take extra labor, also priced after inspection.
We take the swirls out. We do not paint over them.
Beyond an exterior detail, paint correction is a multi-stage polishing process that removes swirl marks, light scratches, and oxidation at the source instead of hiding them. A lot of shops fill those swirls with waxes and polishes that look good for a few weeks. We remove them for real. It restores clarity and depth, and it is the right first step before any coating goes on. Bring the car by and we will show you what it needs.
Learn about Paint Correction→
Contaminants a polish will not lift.
Hard Water Spot Removal
Hard water spots are mineral deposits, and they will etch into your clear coat if they sit long enough. We remove them safely and bring the finish back smooth and clear, without damaging the protective layers underneath.
Overspray Removal
Paint overspray, industrial fallout, and stubborn road tar are a real risk with how much construction is going on around here, and it is often an unavoidable accident. We safely lift these bonded contaminants off the paint and leave the surface clean.
How an exterior detail goes.
Drop Off and Loaner Car
Hand off the keys and take a free loaner, based on availability.
Wash and Decontaminate
Foam bath, 2 bucket hand wash, then iron, tar, and clay decontamination. This is where most of the work happens.
Polish and Seal
The polish step matched to your car, bare paint, a coating, or film, then sealed.
Drive Away Protected
We walk the finished car with you, then it is yours again.
What customers say.
Real Google reviews from exterior detailing clients across Redmond, Bellevue & Seattle.
Took my Crosstrek here and was not expecting the final details to be so good! When discussing what I wanted done detailing wise every concern was addressed. My car looks better than it did the day I bought it from the dealership! The exterior and interior is amazing! Highly recommend for a good detailing and fresh new look! Plus the customer service is really amazing. Clean workspace and professional!
Great customer service and communication. Dropped off my Tesla in the morning in exchange for their loaner car (a very clean and usable Kia Soul). I picked up my well-groomed car at end of the day. Every surface was seemingly cleaned. I am satisfied with the Wash, Decon & Protect package, and will return in the spring for an upgraded exterior package that includes a sealant.
Because of my work schedule, I had to make arrangements ahead of time for dropping off and picking up the car and they were more than accommodating. The staff was exceptional in greeting me and getting me checked in. I am very picky about my gloss black Volvo and absolutely fearful of swirled paint. When I went to pick up my car, I was ecstatic. The paint is flawless. I took it for an exterior detail but they went above and beyond and thoroughly cleaned the interior too! Highly recommended!
Recent exterior work in Redmond, Bellevue, and Seattle.
Drop off, grab a free loaner, drive away protected.
Quality work takes time, and you should not have to wait around for it. We keep a small free fleet, based on availability, so your day keeps moving.
Questions about exterior detailing.
Which of the three services do I need?
It depends on what is on your paint now. Bare paint gets Essential Exterior, a coated car gets the Ceramic Maintenance Polish, and a car with film gets the PPF Maintenance Polish. Not sure? Tell us what you had done and we will point you to the right one.
What does decontamination do?
It removes bonded contaminants a wash cannot touch. Iron from brake dust, road tar, and industrial fallout embed in your clear coat, and an iron remover, a tar remover, and a clay pad pull them out. That is why the paint feels like glass after.
Will this remove my swirls and scratches?
A single stage polish improves the finish, but it will not remove real defects. For that you want paint correction, a multi-stage process priced after we see the car.
Will the polish strip my ceramic coating?
Not with the Ceramic Maintenance Polish. It uses a non-abrasive Essence+ polish made to work with a coating rather than cut through it.
Can you polish paint protection film?
Yes. STEK makes a polishing compound formulated for film that removes oxidation and light marring and restores gloss. Matte film included.
How long does the sealant last?
3-6 months, depending on how the car is driven and stored. If you want years instead of months, look at a ceramic coating.
My car has overspray or heavy moss. Can you help?
Yes, but it takes real labor, so we quote it after an inspection.
Do I need paint correction before a ceramic coating?
Almost always. A coating locks in whatever is underneath, so any swirls left behind stay there.
How long does an exterior detail take?
Most are a full day. A free loaner keeps you moving, based on availability.
Ask about availability
Tell us what you are booking and when you need the car. We will confirm what is open.